Steam-boiler coupling.



No. s7|,o|s. V Patented Apr. 2, IQOI.

E. s. CLARK.

STEAM BUILER COUPLING. (Application filed July so, 1900. (No Model.)

3 SheetsShe et l.

LL WTNEEEEE- m: nonm's Pn'sns on. PHOTD-LITHQ, wAsmracmJN, D u,

Nu. e7|,o|3. I Patented Apr. 2, 19m.

E. s. CLARK.

STEAM BOILER COUPLING.

(Application 1110:! July 30, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 6'7I,DI3. Patented Apr. 2', I90L E. S. CLARK. r

STEAM BOILER COUPLING.

Mpplicationfiled July 30, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-"Sheet 3.

Ffg- 11:]. v

Fig-7- [45m A DC all Fig- WITNESSES- H V lNvzNTElR \lir RT T Y m: humusPmln 00. minimum" WASHINGTON o c 9 FFICE.

EDWARD S. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

STEAM-BOILER COUPLING.

SEEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,013, dated April 2,1901. Application filed July 30, 1900. Serial No. 25,211. (No model.)

ling for which Letters Patent of the United.

States No. 546,809 were granted to me Sep tember 24:, 1895. In my formerinvention the coupling was peculiar in that it comprised a threaded capfor an enlarged pipe, with nipples or coupling-sockets on the closed endof said cap and odset or located on either side of the center thereof toreceive pipes of reduced diameter, so that two series of such smallerpipes could be placed side by side in the same vertical plane as theenlarged pipe to which the cap was secured. The walls of the furnacewere of closely-set vertical tubes to which the reduced transverse pipesabove the fire were connected by said couplings. My present improvementretains this offset feature of the coupling and adds to it thepeculiarity that the nipple or socket so offset is duplicated orpartitioned and formed with a terminal and an intermediate outlet, bothin the plane of one half of the end cap and curved to right or left, soas to receive at right angles to the axis of said cap two distinct pipesone above the other, which may thus extend parallel across the boiler,and by return-bends of unequal length return to the plane of thecoupling, thus presenting four nearly-horizontal pipes in the verticalplane of one half of the cap or enlarged portion of the coupling. Forthe sides of my boilers the connecting-nipples are formed on one halfonly of the end of the cap, the other half being left vacant (as in myformer patent) for the return-bend of the pipes extending from theopposite wall of the boiler. The central line of the couplings when thefurnace is made double will have the curved offset nipples with theterminal and intermediate outlets, as stated, formed on each half plesor outlets, all turning toward the front. I employ also improved formsof'couplings at the upper ends of the small circulationpipes in order toreduce the number of perforations in the steam-drum and thesteammanifold to which'they lead. For the sides of the boiler theseupper couplings receive the ends of the two parallel pipes running fromthe terminal and intermediate outlets of the offset couplings described,and by means of a pipe-section of proper length with right and leftterminal threads or a union-joint these couplings having one central andone ofiset nipple or socket and being reversible edgewise so as to enterthe manifold along a zigzag line, thus separating the perforations andleaving the manifold stronger. The manifold is supported at its ends bypipes extending directly upward from the vertical wall-tubes at the rearcorners of the furnace.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of mydouble-furnace boilers, the outside casing being largely broken away toshow the compact internal construction. Fig. 2 is a partial horizontalsection at 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, the casing invertical section. Fig. l is a partial horizontal section at 4 4, Fig. 3.Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged perspective views of my improved offsetdouble-outlet couplings, and Fig. 8 a bottom view of Figs 6 and 7. Fig.9 is apartial rear elevation of the boiler, and Fig. 10 is a detail ofthe piping and connections. Figs. 11 and 12 are enlarged details of theupper couplings, and Fig. 13 a plan of a modinace is rectangular and hasa suitable bottom grate above the ash-pit, water manifoldpipes B formingthe base of the side and rear Walls and of the central partition when adouble furnace is provided, as in Fig. 1. These manifold-pipes have aseries of suitably-spaced perforations to receive the nipples of theunion-joints connecting the vertical tubes thereto.

0 represents the enlarged vertical tubes of the side walls closely setin the manifold B, D the like tubes of the rear wall, and E thoseforming the central partition, Fig. 1, similarly set. These tubes arepreferably secured in position by union-joints, as indicated in Figs.

1, 3, and 9.

Figs. 5 to 8 represent my improved couplings F by which the verticalwall-tubes are connected at top to the smaller circulationpipes GandI-I, traversing the space directly above the furnace. These newcouplings differ somewhat in form, but are characterized by a pluralityof offset outlets through either or each half of the end of the threadedcap screwed upon the vertical tube. Fig. 5 shows the form I use for theside walls, the two outlet-socketsf being formed on one half only of thecap to receive the two transverse circulation-pipes G, which runparallel to each other across the furnace and return, bringing the fourpipes in the vertical plane of one half of the end cap. The other halfof the end cap being vacant gives space over it for the elbow or thereturn-bends of the two pipes coming to that point from a similarcoupling on the opposite side of the furnace and returning thereto orextending directly upward. It will be seen that with these double-outletoffset couplings and piping arranged as shown eight of the transversecirculation-pipes will be found in the vertical plane of each of thesidewall tubesthat is, two of the small pipes forward and back from andin the plane of each half of-said tube and connected to the outlets ofsaid couplings.

The coupling shown in Fig. 6 and bottom plan, Fig. 8, is the formemployed in my double boilers, where a central range of the verticaltubes E forms a partition between the furnaces. In such cases the twinoutlets f are formed on both halves of the end cap and lead in oppositedirections to receive the pipes G, which extend in duplicate to the sidewalls at right and left of said partition. These pipes returning to thecenter four high or in the same vertical plane in which they depart fromit extend thence upwardly and are coltnected to the steam-drums in thetop of the boiler. Pipes from the side walls extend in to the center andreturn to the sides four high in the vertical plane of the same tubes E,as shown in Fig. 2. The other fourfold coupling (shown in Fig. 7) hasits four outlets turned in the same direction. This is the form I employto connect the longer vertical tubes D of the rear wall to thehorizontal circulating-pipes H, two pairs of which run forward side byside and return in the same vertical plane to the rear of the boiler, asshown in Figs. 3 and 10. Here, again, immediately above the transversepipes G there are in the vertical plane of each rear-wall tube D eightof these longitudinal circulation-pipes 1-I that is, the four pipes fromthe coupling, Fig. 7, extending forward and back in said plane. Thisconstruction, due to the double outlets in the plane of each half of thecouplings, results in the greatest possible compactness and giveswonderful effectiveness in utilizing the fuel and in speedy productionof steam wilhout making the circulation-pipes too long.

The bottom plan, Fig. 8, shows the double outlets f separated by apartition in each half of the end cap, all being offset for the purposesstated. In the modification, Fig. 13, instead of the integralnipplesffour threaded bosses are formed on the end of the cap X toreceive independent tubes connected by elbows to the horizontal pipes H.I use this coupling to avoid casting long integral nipples on the capsin cases where the rear vertical tubesDare nohigher than the side tubes0, and hence where extension is required to connectthe rear tubes withthe longitudinal pipes H in a plane above the transverse pipes G.

In Figs. 1, 3, and 10, J represents one of the steam-dru ms at top ofthe boiler, into which steam is delivered from the central and sidewalls and the pipes G. The upper couplings K, connecting the twin pipesG to the drum, are shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 11. The outer end or head ofthe coupling has two threaded lateral sockets properly spaced to receivethe upper section of said pipes, reversely threaded at its end to engagethe pipe-elbow below and said socket. This double-socketed head isconnected to the drum in a straight or staggered line of openings byshort pipe'nipples and union-joints or by an integral tubular stem.After the coupling is inserted in the drum the twin pipes G may besuccessively connected thereto by rotating their upper sections, thehorizontal portions springing sufficie'ntly for the purpose.

The upper pipes H do not discharge directly into the drums J, but intothe steammanifold M, extending across the rear of the boiler andcommunicating with the drums. This manifold has along its under side asuc cession of bosses m, staggered or arranged in a zigzag line to eachengage the one nipple or stem of the coupling 70, which receives the twopipes H coming in the same vertical plane from the rear lower coupling FFig. 7. The form and application of this coupling are shown in Figs. 9,10, and 12, where the twin pipes enter the two threaded sockets, theaxis of one of them being oifset with relation to the stem which entersthe boss m. Reversing these couplings edgewise alternately brings thecoupling-stem to the bosses m successively, as shown. It will be'seenthat the couplings K and 1c are similar in the respect that each takesthe two circulation-pipes com- TIO ing to it from the two outlets f onone half of one of the couplings F and delivers the steam through oneorifice into the drum or manifold at top of the boiler.

In Figs. 3 and 9 the manifold M is shown supported by the tubular postsP, extending up to it from the corner vertical tubes D. In lieu of thesingle post at each corner four parallel pipes may be interposed betweenthe top and bottom couplings, such as are indicated in Fig. 13. Suitabledoors in the easing are shown in Fig. 1, while Figs. 1 and 3 show thedownflow-pipe Q outside the casing and the feed-water-heating pipesbeside the steam-drums.

I claim as my invention- 1. The described offset coupling for water andsteam pipes, consisting of an enlarged end cap having a plurality ofoutlets leading through its end portion from one side of the axialcenter thereof and adapted to receive, in the vertical plane of one halfof such end portion, two distinct pipes, of reduced diameter the ends ofwhich engage said outlets in the same vertical plane, substantially asset forth.

2. The described offset coupling for water and steam pipes, consistingof an enlarged threaded end cap having, integral with its end portionand at one side of the axial center thereof, a partitioned tubularpassage formed with a terminal and an intermediate threaded outletadapted to engage the ends of two parallel pipes lying in the plane ofone half of said end cap and serving to receive the threaded ends of twodistinct circulationpipes, substantially as set forth.

3. The described offset coupling for water and steam pipes, consistingof an enlarged threaded end cap formed with a plurality of threadedpipe-sockets opening through its end portion in each half thereof, thatis at each side of its axial center, and adapted to receive in thevertical plane of each half of its end portion two distinct pipes ofreduced diameter, substantially as set forth.

4. The described offset coupling for water and steam pipes, consistingof an enlarged, threaded end cap having a plurality of quarter-turnpipe-sockets formed in pairs on and integral with each halfof its endportion, that is at each side of the axial center, and adapted toreceive in the vertical plane of each half of its end portion, twodistinct pipes eX- tending in said plane at right angles to the axis ofsaid cap, substantially as set forth.

5. In a steam-boiler, a furnace having vertical side Walls formed ofclosely-set vertical water-tubes, supplied from horizontal manifoldbase-pipes and suitably-arranged feedwater pipes, in combination withtransverse center of said cap, each pair of such circulation-pipes beingconnected to said sockets and located in the vertical plane of one halfof said cap and its tube, substantially as set forth.

6. In asteam-boiler, afurnacehavingavertical wall formed of closely-setVertical watertubes connected at foot to horizontal watersupply pipes,and provided with offset couplings consisting of a threaded end cap foreach vertical tube and a plurality of outlets through the end of saidcap at each side of its axial center in combination with smaller eirculation-pipes connected in pairs one above another to the severaloutlets of said cap, whereby two pairs of said pipes extend from eachcap and traverse the space/above the furnace in the vertical plane ofeach half of said wall-tubes and may recross in the same plane,substantially as set forth.

7. In a steam-boiler, a furnace having side and rear walls formed ofvertical water-tubes suitably connected with a water-supply, eachside-wall tube,b eing provided with a threaded end cap having aplurality of quarter-turn threaded coupling-sockets at one side of itsaxial center and in the same vertical plane, and each rear-wall tubehaving an end cap with a plurality of such sockets at each side of itscenter, in combination with circulation pipes connected to said sockets,the pipes G from the end caps of the sidewall tubes extending in pairsfrom one side of each cap toward the opposite wall, there rising andreturning in the same vertical plane, and the pipes II from the foursockets of the end caps of the rear-wall tubes extending abouthorizontally, above the pipes G to the front of the boiler and returningto the rear thereof, each pair of tubes II in its own vertical plane andall the circulation-pipes communicating at top with thesteam-receptacle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD S. CLARK.

Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, H. W. LADD.

